Good-Mart

I stumbled upon this one today from a few years back.

It's a horrid, dystopic idea Scotty and I came up with once, chatting on the cell phone while I was driving through the desert. I got to my hotel room that night and jotted the whole thing down.

To me this would be the most horrendous mode of living imaginable, but I have a feeling I may be in the minority on that. So here's my Good-Mart proposal, guaranteed to turn any developer into a king.

Read at your own risk, and make sure to have one of those "comfort" bags at the ready.

D-Blog




Good-Mart and World Domination


It started with J-Mart- a small chapel in the back of the Wal-Mart where people can go for church services before they go shopping. Originally the J stood for Jesus, but in certain districts, it could stand for the other thing, or (as they do in Aspen) have a Saturday version for Jew-Mart and a Sunday version for Jesus. A little tweaking would be in order for the Muslim neighborhoods lest Jihad-Mart take off in undesirable ways. Maybe we could consider Burka-Mart embedded in Burka-King. . . lots of possibilities.


Anyway, we soon realized that once the church is part of Wal-Mart, there literally is nothing else required for life (except for those who believe in compulsory schooling), therefore it will be the end of civilization as we know it and the beginning of the Brave New World of Good-Mart, named after its founder, [D-Blog].


At Good-Mart, we combine all the convenience of Wal-Mart with the bustling metropolis atmosphere of a real city. Improving community and cutting down on waste through intelligent eco-management of resource, Good-Mart represents the future of American living.


The concept begins with the Wal-Mart, the center of everything retail. But Wal-mart, Sam’s Club, and associated strip mall retail outlets form not only the cultural foundations for the complex but the architectural ones as well. Once re-enforced, the Wal-Mart will serve as the ground floor for a series of high rise towers with elevator service leading down into the Mart itself.


We therefore are able to create an entire gated community with a Wal-mart at its base. Elevators would run up and down the 4-40 story towers. There would be a swimming pool, fitness center and other amenities. Restaurants could be provided downstairs in the style of a Las Vegas casino – buffets might work especially well. A medical facility could be “on campus” as well as any other requirements specific to the community (legal and accounting services, for example- Law-Mart).


Parking would remain street level as in a normal Wal-Mart/Mall, but it would be covered, providing protection from the sun as well as additional acreage for more towers and public spaces. Parks, fountains, jogging tracks would all be part of this “virtual city.” A light rail system (modeled on the one in the Detroit airport) would connect different parking sectors as well as different segments of the compound. Driving would be held to a minimum, and walking/rail systems would provide most of the transportation. This would increase exercise and physical fitness while diminishing carbon emissions and driving. In fact, 95% of one’s daily needs would be provided by the complex itself- especially shopping and retail needs. Of course, delivery service would be provided on demand from downstairs businesses. In fact, an optional Good-Mart card can be used to charge all expenses to the monthly rent bill. A simple card swipe or fingerprint ID is all you would need to shop “on-campus.”


There could also be ‘virtual,’ multi-purpose office space in the complex. In this way, people from most cubicle-style jobs could work close to home over the internet. Xerox/fax service would be provided as well as messenger service, and secretarial service. In this way, people from several different businesses could all work from the same office through video conferencing and email.


Retirement communities would transplant well into Good-Mart. The close proximity to neighbors and medical help would be a plus as well as the benefits of reduced driving and increased exercise. General communal sense would be improved as well- compared with traditional planned communities based around separate homes, fenced off from each other.

Also, waste would, in general, be reduced, as trash removal/recycling would be more efficient, lawn care reduced, and mass transport clean, swift, and available round the clock. If desired, solar paneling could be used on the exterior of the buildings to harness energy, and wind farms could be placed on the roofs. Electrical efficiency strategies could be employed as well, plus energy could be re-harnessed from alternators in elevators, escalators, and light rail. All energy would be fed back into the grid itself.


Public gardens may be made available in certain locations, tended to by local residents. Movie theaters, different sporting ground facilities (depending in part on Good-Mart theme, e.g. shuffle board for elderly focused residents, ‘beach’ volley ball for younger), and music and art installations would be available as well. Day care would be a given. Also, with office space so close to home, having lunch with the whole family (at one of Good-Mart’s dining establishments or prepared at home using ingredients from the downstairs Wal-Mart) could become a new tradition.


“Bulk” discount home furnishing packages and items could be available for purchase (if desired) for the units- for example, Good-Mart Living Co. could purchase 500 flat screen TVs and sell them to residents at a discounted cost. This way, state of the art home amenities could be made available at an affordable price, thus incentivising the young and trendy (or at least young and professional) to live in a Good-Mart unit rather than a private home. Ikea-style pre-set home furnishings could also be purchased in bulk and sold at discounted prices for Good-Mart residents.



Finally, projecting out into the future, an interconnected network of Good-Marts would span the nation. Modeled loosely on the VOR model of aviation navigation or the interstate highway system, regional Good-Marts would serve as "hubs" of culture and civilization with light-rail ‘spokes’ connecting them all at greater distances. Bullet trains would parallel the highway system (as a reminder to drivers that alternatives exist to long highway travel- and at quicker speeds) taking families speedily and easily between Good-Mart ‘loci’ across the country. In this manner, visiting friends and families would be a cinch, with holiday commotion and travel costs kept to a minimum. (Also, as with some cell phone calling plans, this incentivises family members to become part of the Good Mart community as well- perhaps discounts/bonuses could be made available for ‘signing up' new members to the network.) Most importantly, all light rail systems on Good-Mart locations and between locations would be crystal clean- only being ridden by ‘citizens’ of Good-Mart who have an interest in preserving their quality of life.


Ideally each Good-Mart hub would have its own "Vegas-style" theme. For people who have always dreamed of living in Paris, there could be a Parisian-themed Good-Mart. A "rural" themed Good-Mart would be appropriate for gardeners. There could be Good-Marts for different tastes in food, clothing, and entertainment- Jazz-based Good-Marts, Meat-and-Potatoes-themed Good-Marts, or Trendy-Chic-based Good-Marts. The possibilities are endless. Of course, some Good-Mart communities would prefer not to be the envy of their neighbors or be visited too frequently by Good-Mart "Tourists." Exclusive or Reclusive Good-Marts could also be available for Americans desiring a quieter lifestyle.


Good-Mart will always be improving its services and efficiencies- while always maintaining the quality lifestyle desired by its residents. A new America is dawning. Wal-Mart was only the beginning. Now, Good things are happening at Good-Mart.